Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

After my motor went south, I've been obsessing over finding a re-power for my Steplift by checking eBay every day, shopping on the web, looking at classifieds, etc., etc. Well, I found a '97 Oceanrunner 175hp with less than 250 hours, perfect compression, etc. It even comes with a bracket, so I've gone bracket, MJ! The thing is, this is all attached to this.

http://home.comcast.net/~bigdaddy517...SeaCraft3a.jpg

She's a restored 1966 SeaCraft 19 bowrider. She has a few dings and scrapes, but she should clean up easily and everything else is solid. She sits on this '05 aluminum trailer

http://home.comcast.net/~bigdaddy517...SeaCraft2a.jpg

and has a little more fishing room with the open bow than the V-20.

http://home.comcast.net/~bigdaddy517...SeaCraft1a.jpg

Honestly I don't like the boat's lines as much, there's less beam and freeboard, and losing the storage of the cuddy will hurt. But it really boiled down to money. After the Step' is sold, I'll have a lot le$$ out of pocket for this whole rig than I would have had I re-powered the Wellcraft.

So, another board member is trading one "classic" for another and going to a SeaCraft. If'n you'll have me :-* , I'd still like to stick around as this is a great little community that gets better every day. It'll be sad to see my Steplift go. I feel like I hardly go to know her, but it was great while it lasted.

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

And since I didn't have a pic for the "tow-vehicle" thread, I took a pic of my armored rug-rat carrier and boat hauler.

http://home.comcast.net/~bigdaddy517/BigGreen1a.jpg

Fueling up boats prepared me for putting gas in this thing, Still, I wouldn't trade it for anything except for one with a diesel.

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

So whats the deal you think with the motor on the V-20 ?
Major work ?? or just tired of dealing with one problem after another. Recalled a post in th epast...it shut down on ya a few times ?

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Gave up on Wellcraft and drives a Ford to boot!!

Good Luck your going to need it!! ;D

But I guess we will let you hang around if not for anything else, but New Tshirts every year or so ;)

really good luck!

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Chessie,

Are you kidding, your the man. You have been a great member. I just hope you stick around because your always welcome.

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Congratz! I know you got a great deal on that SC too. I've been eyeballin that rig for many months. Did you have to go to Wisconsin to pick it up?

I actually almost had "phester" convinced to buy it for the trailer and to repower his V20.

Good luck! (with the Ford that is) :)

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

I thought that boat looked familiar,and yes,if I were to get it I was going to just swap motors and trailer and just resell it. Nice package Ches good luck. Keep us posted on how she works out

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

hey Chez
which motor is n your tow truck lol and what kind of gas mileage do you get towing and not towing in that excursion?

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

CONGRATS on the Sea Craft!! 8) 8)...whadda nice rig...and the trailer is to DROOL over!!... ;)...have you had 'er in the water yet??...

You better not forget about us ;D ;D ;D....

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Thas a fine setup Ches.......dont be a stranger!!!

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Way to go C'peak! Keep em both and rebuild the motor on the V20 ;D That'll solve the problem ;)

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Nice rig Ches, good luck with it ;)

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Thanks, guys. It's bittersweet and just came down to time and money. The idea was that the V20 would sit in the driveway to work on during the summer until the fall when I go full-on fishing mode. The honey-do's and the house projects don't end so I just can't find the time to do any refurb work.

msb,
I shopped and searched and shopped for a decent re-power deal, but this was just too sweet to pass up.

MJ,
The General cost me over $4k putting two trannies into my Tahoe. No problems (knock on wood) with the Excursion yet. :-*

Tin,
The boat's from Maryland by way of Florida.

Skools,
6.8L V-10...it'll move the earth, but the price is 11mpg, about 9mpg towing. :P

rap,
Sea trialed it and she flies. It was flat calm so it wasn't a good day to test the ride in the chop, but a goose of the throttle had us running 45mph and it wasn't even wound up all the way. Fastest boat I've had ran maybe 35mph.

B-R,
I'd be a two-boat owner livin' in a doghouse. ;)

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Having broken rank myself, I also had mixed emotions. Glad you can go fishing now. Since I got my new boat I've found it easier to go fishing. My wife dosn't complain much, but last week she busted me for putting off 2 projects I promised her about 10 fishing trips ago. I argued that she made me promise to use the new boat, not have it sit in the driveway while I worked on it, like I did with the V20. Good try, but it didn't fly.

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

I fell as though I have violated a trust by getting my new one, but it sure is gonna be nice, the new T top is being made now and the new Raymarine A65 is being shipped. The wife told me a few weeks ago, "I dont care what you do, I want to go out on a boat, so buy a new one or get the old one fixed" The new one was the quickest way to solve that problem. Between, the house renovation, the job and fixing up the V20, boat rides and fishing trips were not on the calender this year. Now the calender is full of boat rides and fishing trips.

Re: Leaving the ranks - new2me boat
 

Mirage,

You've got a wife that wants you to buy a new boat if you can't fix the old one ??!!

Does she have a sister?????